Premier League leaders Arsenal have been handed a massive advantage ahead of their clash with Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium as the visitors will be without the banned Casemiro for the trip.
The Gunners head into the game eight points clear at the top of the Premier League, with the chasing Red Devils failing to reduce that deficit after being held to a draw against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Wednesday evening courtesy of a wondergoal from Michael Olise.
WOW! Michael Olise has just ROBBED Man Utd of all three points with an unreal free-kick! π₯ pic.twitter.com/lGysJsPi1L
β Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 18, 2023
That lead could be cut to five points should Manchester City beat Tottenham on Thursday night, but Mikel Artetaβs side will have the chance to bounce back against Erik ten Hagβs side, in which a win would take them 11 points clear of the Red Devils.
And to that end, they have been handed a major boost as key man Casemiro will be forced to watch from the stands after picking up a yellow card ten minutes from time for a high lunge on Wilfried Zaha.
Erik ten Hag on Casemiroβs yellow card: βHe went for the ballβ. pic.twitter.com/zgARVpcsCI
β Jason Soutar (@jbsoutar) January 18, 2023
Speaking after the game, Erik ten Hag was bullish in his sideβs chances even without the Brazilian, whose introduction has been key to their nine consecutive Premier League wins ahead of their trip to South London, defending his midfielderβs challenge as βinstinctiveβ.
βI think itβs instinctive. He missed the ball. Itβs quite clear it have been a dangerous situation. He wanted to stop it and that was his reaction.β
Meanwhile, David de Gea bemoaned the fixture list, which has given Arsenal a full week to prepare for the clash.
ββ[Itβs a] big blow to lose Casemiro for Sundayβ, he admitted. βI donβt get it why Arsenal donβt play as we have to play in the same week and they donβt. Now we are missing one of our best players. I donβt understand. Now we miss him for a big game and it is a big loss for us.β